Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications

Brief description

Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese, Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and South Asian traditions.

We’ve had 2 wonderful holidays in this lovely island, and have managed to visit ALL the sites! Every one was memorable – although our memories of Galle are tinged with sadness, as 3 weeks after we visited, the tsunami hit and caused lots of damage to this beautiful place.